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Sexual dysfunction and psychological distress in methadone maintenance
W D Spring1, M L Willenbring, T L Maddux
1Department of Psychiatry, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417.
The International Journal of the Addictions
|November 11, 1992
Summary
Methadone maintenance patients with sexual dysfunction may experience issues due to coexisting psychiatric problems, not the methadone itself. Psychiatric evaluation is recommended for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychology
- Pharmacology
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Methadone maintenance therapy is a common treatment for opioid use disorder.
- Sexual dysfunction is frequently reported in patients undergoing methadone treatment.
- The etiology of sexual dysfunction in this population remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between sexual functioning and psychological symptoms in methadone maintenance patients.
- To explore potential contributing factors to sexual dysfunction in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Administered the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory to 25 methadone maintenance patients.
- Collected data on depression, anxiety, sex hormones, and liver function.
- Analyzed correlations between sexual satisfaction and other variables.
Main Results:
- A subgroup of five patients with significantly lower Global Sexual Satisfaction Index scores exhibited more psychological symptoms, higher methadone doses, poorer body image, and reduced sexual drive and satisfaction.
- These patients maintained a normal fund of sexual information and lifetime sexual experience.
- No significant differences were noted in sex hormone levels or liver function tests between groups.
Conclusions:
- Sexual dysfunction in methadone maintenance patients may be linked to coexisting psychiatric conditions rather than directly caused by methadone.
- Psychiatric evaluation should be considered for methadone patients presenting with sexual dysfunction.